‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌Friends,
This summer, we're providing universal, free summer meals to make sure no child goes hungry while school is out.
Here’s an idea: We should do this every summer. It's time to pass the Universal School Meals Program.
This bill would provide free school meals and a snack to all school kids—and eliminate ALL school meal debt. I’m going to ask you to sign on as a Citizen Co-Sponsor of this game-changing legislation. [[link removed]] But first, let me explain why it’s so important.
*
Free
universal
school
meals
mean
healthier
kids.
They
reduce
childhood
hunger,
decrease
obesity
and
improve
nutrition
and
wellness.


*
They
would
boost
learning
outcomes
in
students
by
improving
attendance
and
behavior,
and
enhancing
child
development.


*
They
would
eliminate
the
very
real,
and
very
harmful,
stigma
associated
with
qualifying
for
free
or
reduced
meals.
A
study
in
New
York
City
public
schools
found
that
one
in
three
students
would
choose
to
skip
lunch
altogether
rather
than
face
bullying
and
“lunch
shaming.”


*
They
would
cut
red
tape,
promote
healthier,
local
food
options,
and
streamline
a
complex
system.


And finally, free universal school meals would address longstanding inequalities and even the playing field for all Americans.
Prior to the pandemic, only children in households with incomes below 130% of the federal poverty level qualify for free school meals. That’s an annual household income of just $34,450 for a family of four. This qualification cutoff excludes huge swaths of the population who experience hunger and financial insecurity.
While the USDA announced this spring that it will continue to offer free school meals to all students through June 2022, we need to make this extension permanent.
We know that our country is stronger when we invest in our kids. If you agree that it’s time to make universal school meals permanent, please add your name to become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of our bill:
Add your name! [[link removed]]
The pandemic has given us an opportunity to rethink the systems and structures that set the rules of this country. I believe it’s our responsibility to consider how we can, as President Biden says, “Build Back Better.” That starts with giving our kids—and their families—the best possible foundation to learn, grow and thrive.
Thank you for standing with me.
-Kirsten

Paid for by Gillibrand for Senate


Contributions or gifts to Gillibrand for Senate are not tax-deductible. Gillibrand for Senate does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists, corporate and/or trade association PACs, or "for profit" business entities, including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLCs.

Gillibrand for Senate
126 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

We’d hate to see you go, but if you want to stop receiving messages from Kirsten altogether, you can unsubscribe here:  unsubscribe: [link removed]